Liquid metering dispenser



Sept. 8, 1953 A. M. STEVENSON 2,651,439

LIQUID METERING DISPENSER Filed Sept. 8, 1950 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl INVENTOR G ARTHUR M. STEVENSON P 8, 1953 A. M. STEVENSON 2,651,439

LIQUID METERING DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1950 R62 INVENTOR ARTHUR M. STEVENSON PMIJCS. Bait Y p 8, 1953 A. M. STEVENSON 2,651,439

LIQUID METERING DISPENSER Filed Sept. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ARTHUR M. STEVENSON Patented Sept. 8, 1953 TUNITEED 'iA'lE-NT OFFICE :LIQUID METERING DISPENSER 'Ar'thufM stevenson, Antwerp, Ohio :Application September 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,824

"10 Claims. :1 This invention relates to anew-and improved liquid metering dispenser, and more. particularly to. adevice capable or automatically measuring and dispensing..under,.pressure a,...predetermined measured volumev of. liquid such as lubricating oil and grease.

'The prime objective of the present invention is the provision of a novel liquid metering dispenser which, possesses atmul'titude of advantagescver similar prior art structures. 'Modernprdduction methods now lceing utilized in the motor vehicle "manufacturing. industry present manyv problems "incapable oflbeing solvedby' reference to the 'priorlart. "The presentinvention offers an eco *nomical, eflici'ent solution to several of these problems. 'Inthetprocess or assembling the various components making up a complete motor vehicle itbecomes'necessary atsome" stage of the assembly operation to fill various elements such as differential andtransmission :gear'housings "with a particular quantitybf': lubricatingon or grease. Each element :m'ust' be loaded "with" the "correct amountor charge "of lubricant". and the filling operation must? be rapid. Furthermore, inasmuch as'the lubricant capacities of the various elements difier-and possibly a "later redesign of the same elements may 'increase'ior decrease their capacities, the present invention:provides a "dispenser which"isreadily" adjustableto aplw rality of different operating settings? todeliver .a varie'tyof uniform volume-measured :quantities of liquid'without the need of costly';"conversion units su'ch'as additional volume-measuring cylinders 'or chamb'ers.

-'-Ano'ther obiiectoithe-present inventioiristhe provision pf a dispenser 'in "which liquid under pressure from a single source is used to "fill' a 'measuri-ng pump'and toalso actasa force-exertkin'g mediumfor expelling measured "quantities of liquid from the pump.

. further object is to provide-a unique maniually adjustable means for quickly'changi-ng the volume-of the charge delivered by the measuring pump.

The foregoingan'd other important objects and desirable"featuresinherent in and encompassed bythe invention together with of the purposes'and uses thereof-will become readilyapparent" froma reading of. .the ensuing description in conjunction with the .annexed drawings v.in which:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational viewpartiztllyin section of the invention showing the valve structures conditioned to allow :the measuring.. pump tobe filled v'vitlr"liquid.

Fig. 2 is .a view similar to Fig. l vshowingfithe dispenser conditioned to discharge a uan tity of liquid from the measuring pump. 4

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view o'f 'the dispenser taken substantially along line 3 -3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters designate like elements through out the various views,lthere is shown .aliquid metering and dispensingdevice having a supp-orting .base or platform l6. .Rigidly 'fastenedat their lower ends by. any suitable .means are .a pair of channel-shaped uprightmembers' i E."1The upper ends of the upright members. I l are joined by a cross member l2. 'A similar cross memher l3 parallel to and vertically spacedbelow' member i2 is rigidly attached toiupright'members' H. Base ill and members ii, IZ'and i3 constitute the supporting frame MLfor av portion or the dispenser.

Positioned adjacent theframe M: is aliquid reservoir or'tank [5' which contains ajqua'ntity of lubricating oil orxgrease. A gear Jpump' l'fiof conventional type is connected to a lower portion of reservoirie by means of a conduit H- and is adapted to receive liquid. from the r servoir: and constantly deliver the same-with increasedi'pressure to an outlet conduit l8.

Supported on the base iii-adjacent the upright members i! is a measuring pump 1910f the posi t-ive displacement type. The pump le-comprises a hollow hydraulic cylinder '28 provided withfa loading-discharge openingZl at one end and an unloading-inlet opening-22 at the other end. A plunger or piston 23 having a plunger headt l is slidably mounted Within the cylinder '28. Piston rod 25 extends through an oil seal bushing adjacent the loading-discharge opening 22" and-has oneend connected to the plunger head Zd-and its opposite end providedwith an actuating pawl '26. The pawl 26 includes a horizontally disposed part 21 which pivotally supper-tea foot element 28. It will be noted that foot e1ernent=28 may within the body 30 for opening and closing the ports 3|, 32, 33, 34 in a definite sequential manner as will be described hereinafter. An unloading-inlet conduit or pipe line 36 has one end connected to the unloading-inlet opening 22 and its other end connected to valve port 32. An unloading or return conduit 31 provides liquid communication between an upper portion of the reservoir I and valve port 33 of the valve structure 29. Positioned above valve structure 29 is a similar valve structure 38 which has a valve body 39 provided with three ports 40, 4| and 42. A conduit 43 extends between ports and 34 of valve bodies 39 and 30 respectively. A loadingdischarge conduit 44 connects port 4| of valve structure 38 with the loading-discharge opening 2| of the cylinder 20. One end of a discharge conduit or passageway 45 is secured to the port 42 of the valve structure 38. The opposite end (not shown) of the discharge conduit 45 terminates adjacent the assembly line carrying the elements to be filled with lubricating oil or grease. It will be noted a valve plug 41 similar to plug 35 is rotatably supported in the body 38 to open and close ports 48, 4| and 42. A by-pass conduit 41' having a pressure relief valve 48 interposed between its ends is connected between return conduit 31 and the pump outlet conduit |8.

Rigidly fastened to each valve plug 35, 41 is an operating arm 49, 50. A link 5| has one end pivotally connected to the free end 52 of arm 49 and its other end attached in a like manner to end 53 of arm 50. Pivotally supported between upright members below cross member I3 is a valve actuating lever designated generally by numeral 54. A cam 55 having a gradual rise surface 55 joining a sharp fall surface 51 is formed on the lever 54 adjacent the pivot point of the lever. A link 58 has a bifurcated end 59 pivotally connected to the lever 54 and has its opposite end 60 connected to link 5| in a similar manner. It will be apparent that lever 54 may be conveniently grasped by the operator and swung vertically in a clockwise direction from a first position shown in Fig. 1 to a second position shown in Fig. 2. Such movement of lever 54 from its first to its second position moves link 58 downwardly, which in turn rotates valve plugs 35, 41 simultaneously through the medium of arms 49, 5|! and link 5|. A coil spring 6| having one end fastened to the lever 54 and its other end secured to the upright members |l continually urges the lever 54 to its first position as shown in Fig. 1. The specific valve structures and the particular linkage for operatively connecting the valve structures together whereby the valve structures are interlocked and operate in unison are disclosed for the purpose of description and are not intended to limit the invention. Cross member H has an aperture 52 formed therein. A similar aperture 63 vertically aligned with aperture 62 is formed in the lower cross member I3. A rod 64 having a length greater than the vertical distance between the cross members 2 and |3 extends through the apertures 62, 53 and has its upper end 65 and lower end 69 extending above and below the cross members l2 and I3 respectively. A hand knob 66 has a hollowed portion 61 engageable with the upper end 65 of the rod 64. A flange 53 formed on the lower edge of portion 51 bridges the aperture 62 and supports the rod 54 on the cross member |2. It will be obvious that rotation of the hand knob 66 will rotate the rod 64. Positioned between the cross members |2, I3 is a longitudinally disposed cylinder or drum 10 having a length somewhat smaller than the vertical distance between the cross members. The drum 10 is rigidly attached to the rod 64 and both are adapted to move vertically and rotationally with respect to the cross members |2, |3. Attached to the outer surface of the drum 10 by welding or the like are a plurality of L-shaped lugs 1|. The lugs 1| are circumferentially and longitudinally spaced in a spiral manner about the drum 10 and it will be understood that no two lugs 1| are in vertical or longitudinal alignment. Each lug 1| is separately positionable in the vertical path taken by the foot element 28 of the actuating pawl 25 during the movement of the plunger head 24 upwardly toward the loadingdischarge end. The horizontal portion 12 of each lug 1| carries an adjustment screw 13, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. The upper marginal edge 14 of the drum 10 is provided with a plurality of slots 15. Each slot 15 is in longitudinal alignment with one of the lugs 1|. Pivotally mounted between upright members H is a locking arm 16 adapted to engage any one of the slots 15 and thus lock the drum 1!] in any one of several positions by preventing relative rotation of the drum with respect to the frame H but allowing vertical movement of the same.

Assuming the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l the operation of the dispenser is as follows: Gear pump I6 is continually delivering liquid under pressure to outlet conduit |8. The valve actuating lever 54 is resiliently urged to its first position by spring 6|. In this position the valve plugs 35, 41 are operated to establish liquid communication between outlet conduit l8, valve structure 29, conduit 43, valve structure 38, loading-discharge conduit 44. Liquid under pressure is delivered through the above described liquid communication means to the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 2|] to force the plunger 23 downwardly. Liquid present in the cylinder 20 below the plunger head 24 is forced through the unloading inlet opening 22, the unloading-inlet conduit 36, the valve structure 29, and the unloading conduit 31 to the reservoir |5. Inasmuch as the pump I6 is constantly delivering liquid under pressure to outlet conduit I8, to prevent serious damage to the dispenser caused by excessive pressures being developed therein after the cylinder is completely filled or loaded with liquid and the plunger 23 has been forced to its lowermost position, pressure relief valve 48 is pre-set to establish liquid communication between the pump outlet conduit l8 and the reservoir |5 when excessive pressures are reached.

When it is desired to dispense a charge or measured volume of liquid the operator merely grasps the valve actuating lever 54 and manually moves the same against the force of the spring 6| to its second position. During the movement of the lever 54 a catch element 11 fastened to the lower end 59 of the rod 64 rides upon surface 55 of cam 55 until the second position of the lever is reached. In the second position as shown in Fig. 2 the catch element 11 engages the sharp full surface 51 to lock the lever in its second position and the valve structures 25, 38 are conditioned as follows: Liquid under pressure is delivered to the lower end of the cylinder 23 through outlet conduit I8, valve structure 29 and the unloading inlet conduit 36 to force the plunger 23 upwardly. Liquid placed in the cylinder above the plunger head 55 L24:duringiztheitime; the :levers 54 #wasiiin its" Ffirst s'ipositionpiis :expelled'. from. :the 7. cylinder to the anoint vwhere ia-niifferential i gearkhousingiror- 'the dikeyist to"'-rerceive' the quantity of liquids through othe loading-discharge conduit 44, valve structureaSBra-n'd the-discharges:conduit l5. f-rMovernnentiof the plunger? 23 :upwardlyilis' continued euntil' the foot: element 28 of the a'ctuating pawl tits-engageslthenadjustm'ent screw 13:0f1one of :the' lugs. H. "Fnrther'fmovement of the? plunger 2.31:-upwardly :also :raises '"th'eidrum 10 and the fired- 64" totdisenga'ge'the? catch element 1'! from -:-'the:'surfa'ce -5]. I When this occurs 'lever fikautormaticirllyassumes its'first position and-the valve irslil'llctnresi are correspondingly conditioned to restablish liquid rcommunication as 1 described above. T: It-wwill -be apparent that the volume of diquid dispensedrduringireach' cycle of'opera'tion depends :toni'the diameter: of the hydraulic cylinder and"the::length :ofistmke 'of the plunger. :The zlength-of: stroke-of: the plungeris selectively variable :in the :present' :invention by positioning .tzany one ofthe lugs 71 infthepath of the'actuat- -ingrpawl 26. Inasmuch as each'lug'l'l is' longiitudin'ally-"spaced.:Erom the other lugs it wilhbe obvious that the distance fthe plunger moves :before-rcontacting-a lug -to control or limit the ;'.'length of strckexdepends :on' the particular setting/of .thefacylindrical. drum. Fine control "of :zthezvolume 10f the liquid .l.dispensed is accorr1-' :Jplished byr rotating the adjustment screw asassociated withteach lug. *When it is desirous to zideliver-ra dirl erentz'measured quantity of liquid Fbhe operatorr may readily: raise thelocking-arm :7 6 rout-10f engagement-with ithe slots i 15 I with one hand-sand rotate the drum L :1 fl 'by' grasping the hand knob 66 with his other handtotposiitioni'the' :lug; corresponding to the desired charge inthewerticalpaith taken by the actuating pawl.

F'Jlhe-locki-ng arm is then released to engage the "slotzasscciated with ithelparticular lug'and thus efiectively maintain the drum setting until Lchanged-vagain by the-operator.

:ZAS stated .hereinbefore, the -actuating pawl fii comprises-mat "root :element 28 pivotally supported zby a Phorizontally idisposed part 21 insuch -a "zmanner that" the afoot element :may swing vertiically upwardly '1 but is 'stopped .Lfrom pi-voting -downwardlyi beyond ca horizontal plane containringzlpart 21. :The aactuating pawlcis -s con structed to prevent damage to the -equipment :twhich :would result if t the cylindrical "drum -shou'ld l be inadvertently -rotated i before the :plungere.-is.:i-n itsIloWerm-ost position. That is,

the actuating zpawl smay' .fold up-during its downward movement it" one er the-"adjustingscrews sis moved/into po'si'tion =below the-foot element.

" 'lhe embodiment of the-invention chosentor I the purposes z-of illustration and description 5 a second?pump-adapted torrec'eive liquid from said. reservoir; aifirst valve structure. adaptedto receive liquid "under pressure from said second wpump; an iunloading-lin'let conduit :pro'viding :liquid communication rsbetween said-waive: strucitureand 'theunloa'ding-Iinlet end of said cylinder;

"an unloading conduit providing liquid com- --muhication between said valve structure and-said reservoir; :a' secondvalve structure having liquid communicationawithusaid :first valve structure 7 a 5 floading 'discharge conduit providing liquid communicatien between said second valveistructure andasaid loading-discharge end of said cylinder; andi's-charge' conduit having one end conne'cted to saidcsecond valve structure; linkage operatively interconnecting said firstvandvsecond valve struc- =tures whereby-saidvalve structures are operated i-nunisonyza valve'actuating lever connected to said-linkage fhavingaffirst positionin whichfli'quid under pressure is 'introduced into the loading- 25 1' discharge end of said cylinder through said tfi-rst valve structure, said second valve structure and *said :loading discharge conduit "tozrnove 'said t-plunger toward 'said unloading-inlet 'endandil'oad said cylinder 1. with "liquid and the :unloading-in- SOBlEtxGnd ofthe cylinder is placed .iIl liquid com- *municaticnwith :said'reservoir through said unloading-inlet conduit," said :flrst valve structure, and said unloading conduit,said lever i being manually' movableto aissecondrposition wherein lliquid: under pressure-isdntroduced' into the unleading "end" of said: cylinder throu'gh said first valve 1 structure and said unloading-inlet conduit to move "sai'd 'iplun-ger toward said "loadingrdischarge 'end and-the loadingedischarge end of 40 saidcylinder ais placed in liquid. communication with said discharge conduit'through said loading- -discharge conduit-andsaid. second-valve structure; springmeansattached to saidvalveactuat- ...ing=-lever for continuallyurging said lever to said 1 first position; aslidable catch element "engage- Fablevwith said-lever iorlocking: said lever in sa id second position; za seleictionldrum rigidly attached to saidcatch -element, said, drum ihaving a plurality of circmmferentially, longitudinally Iain sp-aced- Slugs. projectingrra'dially' therefrom; said lug-s I-each being wselectively. positionable 'in -t'he path :taken: by said' actuating npawl' during the movement: of the .plunger 'itoward said loadingdischarges end to-.'disen'gage.-fsaid catch element efrom said lever; and releasable. locking r means for maintaining anyeone oi said lugs in the path :ofsaidqoawl 2. FA lubricant'metering' dispenser com-prising a :p'ampninoludingz a Ycylinder having 'a loadingh reinri th t f d as v. result bf 'gelectjv lfi) dischargereiidcand'anAunloading -inl'et end, said :tests based upon-requirements for achieving the objects of the invention and developing the utility thereof in the most-desirable manner, due regard -being had to' ex istingfactors of economy,

=;cylinder' having a rplunger reciprocably mounted thereinwa lubricant reservoir; a second pump adapt-ed to receive lubricant fromsaid reservoir; fiTSlJiIlIl'bQl'CQII-It 'c'onduit me'ans alternatively conditsimplicity f,;;d 'i improvementsnsought 565 .tionable:to'iprovideluuricantcQmmuhicatiOn 'beto be effected. -It will be appreciatedftherefore, 'that 'the particular structural'an'd functional -'-aspects-emp'hasized herein are not intended to exclude, 1 but rather "to suggest, such other adaptations and modifications of the invention -ras'fall Within the =spirit'andscope 'of' the invention as -defi-ned inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid metering dispenser comprising-a lpump includingacylinder havinga loadingdisi thirdlubricantconduit-means"c'ondition'able to provide lubricant communication between said reservoir and said unloading-inlet end, said means being so conditioned simultaneously when said first conduit means is in said first condition; yieldable means normally maintaining said first conduit means in said first condition; manually movable means for establishing said second condition; catch means engageable with said movable means for maintaining said second condition against the influence of said yieldable means; and control means actuatable by said plunger during its travel from said unloadinginlet end toward said loading-discharge end when said first conduit means is in said second condition for disengaging said catch means from said movable means, said control means being adjustable to vary the distance said plunger is required to move from said unloading-inlet end before actuation by said plunger takes place.

3. A lubricant metering dispenser comprising a pump including a cylinder having a discharge opening at one end and a pressure inlet opening at the other end, said cylinder having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein for discharging measured quantities of lubricant through said discharge opening when moved toward said pening; a second pump for delivering lubricant under pressure to said cylinder; a first conduit providing lubricant communication between said second pump and said inlet opening; a second conduit capable of providing lubricant communication between said discharge opening and said second pump for loading said cylinder with lubricant; a discharge conduit having one end connected to said second conduit and being capable of receiving lubricant from said second conduit; andcontrol means responsive to movement of said plunger toward said discharge opening for simultaneously establishing lubricant communication between said discharge opening and said second pump and disestablishing lubricant communication between said inlet opening and said pump and between said second conduit and said discharge conduit, said control means including adjustable means to vary the distance said plunger is required to move toward said discharge opening before said control means becomes responsive to movement of said plunger.

4. The lubricant metering dispenser as set forth in claim 3 in which the adjustable means includes a selection drum having a plurality of circumferentially, longitudinally spaced lugs projecting radially therefrom, said lugs each being selectively positionable in the path taken by said plunger during the movement of the plunger toward said discharge opening.

5. A liquid metering dispenser comprising a pump including a cylinder having a discharge opening at one end and a pressure inlet opening at the other end, said cylinder having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein for discharging liquid through said discharge opening when moved toward said opening; a second pump for delivering liquid under pressure to said cylinder; a first conduit providing liquid communication between said second pump and said inlet opening; a second conduit capable of providing liquid communication between said discharge opening and said second pump for loading said cylinder with liquid; a discharge conduit having one end connected to said second conduit and being capable of receiving liquid from said second conduit; and means responsive to movement of said plunger toward said discharge opening for simultaneously establishing liquid communication between said discharge opening and said second pump and disestablishing liquid communication between said inlet opening and said second pump and between said second conduit and said discharge conduit, said means including a valve positioned in said first and second conduits.

6. A liquid metering dispenser comprising a pump including a cylinder having a discharge opening at one end and a pressure inlet opening at the other end, said cylinder having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein for discharging liquid through said discharge opening when moved toward said opening; a discharge conduit for receiving liquid discharged through said opening; a second pump for delivering liquid under pressure to said cylinder through said inlet opening for moving said plunger; a conduit providing liquid communication between said second pump and said inlet opening; and manually adjustable means actuatable by said plunger during its movement toward said discharge opening for automatically disestablishing liquid communication between said inlet opening and said second pump, said means including a valve positioned in said conduit between said second pump and said inlet opening.

7. The liquid metering dispenser as set forth in claim 6 in which the manually adjustable means includes a selection drum having a plurality oi circumferentially, longitudinally spaced lugs projecting radially therefrom, said lugs each being selectively positionable in the path taken by said plunger during the movement of the plunger toward said discharge opening to vary the distance said plunger is required to move before said selection drum is actuated by said plunger.

8. A liquid metering dispenser comprising a pump including a cylinder having a discharge opening at one end and a pressure inlet opening at the other end, said cylinder having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein for discharging liquid through said discharge opening when moved toward said opening; a discharge conduit for receiving liquid discharged from said discharge opening; a liquid reservoir; a second pump for receiving liquid from said liquid reservoir and delivering the same under pressure to said cylinder through said inlet opening for moving said plunger; a first conduit providing liquid communication between the pressure side of said second pump and said inlet opening; a second conduit capable of providing liquid communication between said inlet opening and said liquid reservoir; and manually adjustable means actuatable by said plunger during its movement toward said discharge opening for automatically and simultaneously establishing liquid communication between said inlet opening and said liquid reservoir and disestablishing liquid communication between said inlet opening and said second pump, said means including a valve positioned in said first and second conduits.

9. The liquid metering dispenser as set forth in claim 8 in which the manually adjustable means includes a selection drum having a plurality of circumferentially, longitudinally spaced lugs projecting radially therefrom, said lugs each being selectively positionable in the path taken by said plunger during the movement of the plunger toward said discharge opening to vary the distance said plunger is required to move before said selection drum is actuated by said plunger.

10. A liquid metering dispenser comprising a pump including a cylinder having a discharge opening at one end and a pressure inlet opening at the other end, said cylinder having a plunger reciprocably mounted therein for discharging liquid through said discharge opening when moved toward said opening; a liquid pressure source for moving said plunger; means providing liquid communication between said liquid pressure source and said inlet opening; and manually adjustable means actuated by said plunger during its movement toward said discharge opening for controlling the communication means between said liquid pressure source and said inlet opening, said means including a cylindrical member having :a plurality of circumferentially, longitudinally spaced elements projecting radially therefrom, said elements each being selectively positionable in the path taken by said plunger during the movement of the plunger toward said discharge opening to vary the distance said plunger is required to move before said cylindrical member is actuated by said plunger.

ARTHUR M. STEVENSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

